Typewriting machine



Jan, 13, `i 925.

G. W. CAMPBELL TYPEWRITING MACHINE F'iled Jan. 5l, 1922 w 1 Lil Patenteddan. 13, 1925.

UNTED STATES 1,522,495 PATENT OFFICE.;

GEORGE W. CAMPBELL, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, `ASSIG'N'OR TO UNDERWOODTYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application lei January 81, 1922. Serial No. 533,027.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that l, GEORGE W. CAMPBELL, acitizen of the United States, residing in Hartford, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is aspecification. 1

The present invention relates to means for locking the carriage of atypewriting machine against movement on the main frame of the machinepreliminary to en closure of the machine in a casing; and for releasingthe carriage from such locked condition for the performance of thenormal functions of the machine.

An object ofthe present invention is the provision of means whereby oneand the same movable element may serve both to lock the carriage againstmovement in letterfeed and return directions, and against caseshiftingmovement.

Another object of the invention is the provision .of means whereby thecarriage may v be -released Afor its normal functions by operation ofthe usual space-bar.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby thespace-bar may be operated independently of the locking device when thelatter is in its normal, ineffective position, and when the space-bar isused in typewriting; otherwise expressed, this object of the inventionis the provision of means whereby the connections between the space-barand the locking device are effective only when the carriage is locked. COther features of the invention are the provision of means for settingthe locking device to lock the carriage, independently of the space-bar;the provision of means whereby, when so set, the locking device a'ctsautomatically to lock the carriage against n movement in letter-feed orreturn direction when the carriage shall have been moved a 'suilicientdistance vin the proper direction; the provision of means where ydevice, in locking the carriage against movement in letter-feed orreturn direction, also locks the carriage in lower-'case position; andthe provision of means whereby the locking device is nornially heldagainst accidental displacement, in ineffective position, and, whensetto lock the c-arriage, is spring-held to the latterv until automaticlocking takes place.

the locking Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is perspective View, from the front, of a portion of themechanism of an `Underwood standard portable typeveriting machine,showing the device of the present invention associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a broken view, in side elevation, partly cross-sectional,showing the locking device, and operating connections there for, in thenormal or inoperative position of the same with respect to theplaten-carriage.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, except that the locking deviceis shown in operative position.

Referring to the drawings, a platen 10 isl shown revolubly mounted inthe usual manner upon a carriage-frame 11 which is mounted to haveletter-feed and return movements on a shift-frame 12. For easy movementof the carriage on the shift-frame 12, the former is provided at the`rear with rolls 13 which run on a rail 14 of the shiftframe; and, atthe front, a plate 15, which connects the side pieces 16 of theplatencarriage below the platen, rides on rolls or balls 17 supported ona runway 18 on the shift-frame. rlhe mechanism for actuating theshift-frame is not shown. rlhe shiftframe, however, has threecase-positions which correspond to the three types 19 shown on thetype-bar 20 in Figure 1.

The mechanism for controlling the carriage is urged in letter-feeddirection b a spring-drum, not shown and its letter-flied movement iscontrolled in the following well-known manner. 0n the carriage 11 is arack 21 in mesh with a pinion 22 o-n a stub-shaft 23 ivotally mounted ina bracket 24 in the shi -frame. Fast to the pinion 22 is a ratchet-wheel25, the rotation of which` is controlled by a fixed dog 26 and aloosevdo'g 27, both on aV dog-rocker 28. So long, therefore, as the rack21 is in engagement with the pinion 22, the carriage can have only suchmovement in letter-feed direction asis permitted by the dog-rocker v28when the latter isA actuated upon operapinion 22 to permit the carriageto be moved f ratchet-wheel. e

shift-frame 12, which carries the dog-rocker.

ykey-lever is provided with a shoulder 31,

adapted, when a key 32 is depressed, to engage and depress a universalbar 33 forming part of al bail 34 fast to a rock-shaft 35v which ismounted in brackets 36 on the main frame 37 Also fast to the rock-shaft35 is an arm 38 directed rearwardly and then upwardly, and which at itsupper end carries a rearwardly-extending arm or pin 39. The pin 39projects through a slot 4()v in a yoke 41 forming part of the dog-rocker28. Behind the yoke 41 the pin 39 is provided with a head 42 forengagement with the rear face of the yoke 41. Thedog-rocker 28 ispivotally mounted by means of pivot-pins 43 on ears or brackets on theshiftframe. The upper of these ears orbrackets 44, only, is shown inFigure 1. The dog-rocker is thus adapted to swing in a rhorizontal planearound its vertical pivots 43 to move the dogs in and out 'ofengagementwith the The slot 40 permits the to be moved between case-positionskwith respect to the pin or draw-rod 39 on the arm 38, which latter ispivoted lto the main e the path frame. 4

When a type-key is depressed, the universal bar 33 is depressed and thearm 38 rocked forward, to cause the head 42 on pin 39, by engagementwith the rear face of the yoke 41, to swing'the dog-rocker 28 around itspivots 43, thus moving the loose dog 27 rearward out of engagement withthe ratchet-wheel 25 and bringing the vfixed dog 26 into 'engagementwith thetooth ofthe ratchet-wheel previously engaged by the loose dog. Aspring 45 attached to the lo'sel dog and to the rocker thereupon throwsthe loose dog up to position forengagement with the next tooth of theratchet-wheel; and, when the type-key is released, va leafspring 46,which bears against oneof'the arms of the bail 34, causes the universalbar 33 and key-lever to return to normal position, and also causes thearm 38to"return to normal position, thus permitting the dogi rocker 28to be swung on .its pivots forward out of engagement with theratchetwheel, and to bring the loose do 27 into of the succeeding tooton the ratchet-wheel; whereupon the limited movement of the loose dog onits'pivot ermits of a letter-feed movement of the carriage under thetension of the spring-drum.

For eecting 4letter-feed movement of the carriage from the space-bar 47,theN latter is secured by arms 48 to a rock-shaft 49 supported in fixedarms 50 on a cross-piece 51 by al spring, not shown, to move the fixeddog" of the main frame; on which rock-shaft is also xedly secured an arm52 connected to a link 53, which, in turn, is pivotally connected at 54to a plate 55 pivoted at 56 onv a bracket 57 o-n the frame piece 37.Fast to, or forming part of, the pivoted plate` is anupwardly-projecting arm 58 oset at 59 to project behind the yoke 41 ofthe dog-rocker 28. The space-bar and its connections just mentioned lareheld in the normal, Figure 1, position by a spring A60 connected to therock-arm 52 and fixed arm 50 at the front of the frame. Upon depressionof the space-bar against the` resistance of the spring 60, however, thelink 53 is drawn forward, the plate 55 rocked for ward, and the offset59 behind the yoke 41' of the dog-rocker thereby swung forward to causethe dog-rocker to swing on its pivots 43 in the same manner as whenswung through the operation of a type-key. It vwill he noted that a.sufficient clearance is provided between the boss 42a on the :upper endof the arm 38 in which the pin '39 is mounted and the head 42 on thepin`39 to permit the dog-rocker to be swungY forward when the space-baris operated without rockingl the arm 38 andthe connections thereto fromthe universal bar and the typ-bars.

Thusl far the mechanism described is mechanism which has' heretoforebeen found l in the Underwood standard portable typewriting machine ,andits description here 1s givensimply for a clear understanding of themanner in which the presentinvention, now to be described, is associatedtherewith for the purpose of locking the carriage against accidentaldisplacement when the casing-is tobe applied. l e

The` locking element of the present invention consists of a finger inthe form of an arm 61,v pivotally mounted at 62 on a bracket 63 securedby screws 64 to the under face of the'cross-piece 37 of the main frame,and carrying at its upper end a dog with a detent flange 65 adapted,incertain positions of the platen-carriage, to register with, and "toenter into, a notch or recess 66 in the front edge of thecarriage-cross-plate 15. Normally, or in writing position of the parts,position, held forward away from the car-- riage-plate 15b5r means of aleaf-spring 67 `l be secured to the cross-plate. 37 `It w1 noted, lseeFigure 2, that the finger 61 is extended below' its pivot-point 62 toprovide a tooth 68 adapted V-shaped pocket""69 formed. by the leafspring67 .y When it is desired to lock the carriage, piece 70 at the upper endthereof, is pushed forward, causing the tooth 68 to' snap over theinverted V 71 formedj in the end of the spring 67; lso that, as shown inFigure 3, the spring 67 will cause the finger 61 to be the finger 61,-bymeans of a {ingerthe linger 61 is in the Figure 2 v f to snap in andout;l of a pressed against the front edge ofthe car- I ria-ge-plate 15.If, while the. finger 61 is thus pressed against the carriage-plate 15by the spring 67, the carriage be moved sufciently far toward centralposition from` riage against movement tothe r.right or the left.

yAs hereinbefore stated, not only is it desirable. to lock the carriageagainst movement to the right or to the left, but it is also desirableto lock the 'shift-frame 12 down against movement to middle or uppercase-positions, when the casing is to be applied. Such locking of theshift-frame may be effected by thedetent when overlying the shift-'frame152, as in Figure 3, and also by means of a toe or detent 72 adapted, asshown in Figure. 3, to overlie the front edge of the carriage-plate 15and act directly on the carriage when the arm 61 is thrown rearwardaga-inst said plate 15. Inthe Figure 3 position of the parts, therefore,-the carriage is not only locked against longitudinal ymovement on themachine, but is locked down; and, being thus locked down, holds or locksdown the shift-frame reprey sented by the rail 14 on which the carriageruns.

A feature of the invention' has been stated to be ameans for unlockingthe carriage and the shift-frame by an operation of the space- Vbar whenthe machine is to have its normal functions. For effecting suchunlocking of the carriage and the shift-frame, the link 53,

- which, it will be remembered, is drawn forward, upon depression of thespace-bar, carries a pin 73 which projects laterally across the path ofmovement of the locking'arm 6'1. When the locking arm 61 is in efectiveposition, see Figure 3, the pin 7 3 is just behind the same. If,therefore, when the parts are in this position, the link 53 is drawn'for# lward by depression of the space-bar, the pin '73 will cause thelockingarm 61 to be` swung forward out of engagementwvith thecarriage-plate 15. A This forward, releasing, movement of the'lockingarm 6l causes the C tooth 68 at the lower end of the latter to snap intothe recess 66 in the spring 67, and

I to be held bythe latter in normal, ineffective,

position;

It will be noted that the connections between the space-bar` and thelocking device are such that it is only when the locking device isin'carriage-locking position that the space-bar acts upon the same. Thisone-way acting connection between the space-bar and the locking devicepermits the space-bar to have its normal functions'unencumbered byconnections to the locking device, and precludes1 actuation of thelatter bythe spacebar when the carriage is not to be locked. Variationsmay be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions ofthe improvements maybe used without others.

` Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a'

` platen carriage movable in letter-feed and return directions, anescapement mechanism t'o control the vletter-feed movement of thecarriage, `a space-key and connections therefrom to operatetheescapement mechanism, means for locking the carriage against movement.in letter-feed and return directions, and means 'controlled b yqthespace-key for releasing the carriage-locking means.

2. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen carriage movable inletter-feed and return directions, an escapement mechanism to contr lthe letter-feed movement of the carriage, a space-key and connectionstherefrom lto operate the escapement mechanism,

a finger lfor locking the carriage against` movement in ltter-feed andreturn directions and against case-shift movement, means controlled bythe space-key for releasing the carriage-'locking finger, saidcarriage-locking iinger movablebackward and forward of the machine intoand out of engagement with a slotted rail of the carriage when thecarriage shall have been moved to 'cause such slot to register with thefinger, and a spring for causing the Yfinger to enter the slot when suchregistration occurs. 'i -3.\In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platencarriage movable'in letter-feed and return directions, and shiftablebetween case positions, an escapement mechanism to con? Ltrol theletter-feed movement of the carriage, a. space-key and connectionstherefrom to operate the escapement mechanisn'n means for locking thecarriage against case-shifting movement, and means controlled by thespaceakey for releasing the locking means.

4. In a typwriting machine, a platen, a pla-ten carriage movable inletter-feed and Hreturn directions, and shiftable between case lonoperate the escapement mechanism, means. for locking the carriageagainst movement.

letter-feed or return direction, and against case-shifting movement, andmeans controlled by the space-keyv for releasing the locking means. Y 1

(3. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen carriage movableinwletter-feed and return directibns, and shiftable between casepositions, an escapement mechanism to 'control the letter-feed movementof the carriage, a space-key and connections therefrom to operate theescapement mechanism, means for locking the carriage against movement inletter-feed or. return direction, and against ,case-shifting movement,and means controlled by the space-key for releasing` the locking means,said locking means comprising a finger having a detent thereon forengagement with'a notchin the carriage and adaptedin part to overlie thecarriage Qvhen in effectlve posi/tion.

ln a typewriting machine, a platen, a

Y platen carrlage movable in letter-feed and Cal return directions, acase-shift' frame on which said carriage travels` an escapementmechanism to controlthe letter-feed movevment of the carriage, aspace-key and connections therefrom to" operate theescapement'mechanism, means for locking the carriage against movement.in letter-feed or re- (urn direction, -and against case-shiftingmovement, and means controlled by the space-key for releasing thelocking means, ysaid'locking vmeans comprising afinger having a detentthereon for engagement with a notch in the carriage, and a toe or stopadapted in part to overlie the case-shift frame when in effectiveposition. g

8. ln a typewriting machine,A a platen, a platen carriage movableinletter-feedand return directions, and shiftable between casepositions, an escapement. mechanism to control the letter-feed movementof the carriage, a space-key and connections therefrom to operate theescapement mechanism, means for locking the carriage against movement inletter-feed or return-direction, and against case-shifting movement,means controlled by the space-ke)Y for releasing the .locking means,said locking means` comprising Aa finger having a detent Athereon forengagement Awith a notch in the carriage and adapted in part tooverlie'the carriage when in effcctive position, and means forsettingpthe locking means so that the detent will automa-ticallyengagein the notch upon movement of the carriage a sufficient distance in the'proper direction.

9. ln a type-Writing machine, a platen, a platen carriage movable inletter-feed and return directions, a case-shift frame on which saidcarriage travels, an escapement mechanism to control the letter-feedmovement of the carriage, a` space-key and con- Varmagnac nectionstherefrom to operate the escapement mechanism, means for locking thecarriage against movement in letter-feed or return direction, and`against case-shifting movement, l and means controlled by the space-keyfor releasing' the locking means, said locking means comprising avfinger having a detent thereon for engagement with a notchvin thecarriage, a toe or stop to overlie the carriage,

and a. stop to overlie the case-shiftl frame,

when the finger is in effective position, with f the carriage inlower-case position. A

10. ln a typew-riting machine, a platen, a platen carriagev movable inletter-feed and return directions, and shftable between case positions,an escapement mechanism to control the letter-feed movement of thecarriage, a space-.key and connections 'therefrom to voperate theescapement mechanism, means ,for locking the carriage against movementin letter-feed or return direction, and against case-shifting movement,means controlled by the .space-key for releasing the 'locking means,said locking means comprising a finger having a detent thereon forengagement withoa notch inthe carriage and adapted in 'part to overliethe carriage when in effective position', and means for setting thelocking means under spring tension so that the detent will automaticallyengage in the notchupon movement of the carriage a sufficient distancein the proper direction. ,11. In a typewriting machine, a platen, aplaten carriage, an escapement mechanism comprising a dog-rocker tocont-rol the letter-feed movement of lthe carriage, a' spacekey, a rodor link, having forward and backward movement, connecting the dog-rockerto the space-key, a device `movable to and from the carriage to lock andrelease the L latter, and a detent `carried by said rod to engage saidlocking device to release the carriage when the space-key is depressed.

` 12. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen carriage, anescapement mechanism comprising a dog-rocker to control the letter-feedmovement of the carriage, a vspace-key, a rod or link, having forward Jand backward movement, connecting the dog-rockerto the space-key, adevice movable to and-from the carriage to lock and release thevlatter,and a detent carried by said rod to engage said locking device torelease the carriagewhen the space-key is depressed; the lockingdevicebeing free of said detent in locking' operation.

13'. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen carriage, anescapementmechanism comprising a dog-rocker to control the, letterfeedmovement of the carriage, a space-key, a rod or link, having forward andbackward l'novcment, connecting the dog-rocker to the space-key, an armpivoted to have movement to and from the carriage, a carriagelockingelement on said arm, and a pin or.

ISU

lug on said rod projecting across the path` [platen carriage, anescapement mechanism comprising a dog-rocker to control the letterfcedmovement of the carriage, a space-key, a rod or link, having forward andbackward movement, connecting the dog-rocker to the space-key, an armpivoted to have movement to and from the carriage, a carriage-lockingelement on said arm, a pin or lng on said rod proJectmg across the pathof movement of said arm to strike and .throw the latter tocarriage-released position when the space-key is depressed, and meansfor effecting a setting of said arm whereby the locking element may actantomatically, and independently of said rod, to lock the `carriage whenthe latter has been moved to desired position.`

15. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen carriage shiftablebetween casepositions, and escapement mechanism comprising a dog-rockerto control the letter-feed movement of the carriage, a space-key, a rodor link, having forward and backward movement, connecting the dog-rockerto the space-key, an arm having a detent thereon for engagement with anotch in the carriage ytolock the latter against movement in letterfeedand return directions, and a toe or stop thereon to overlie in part, andlock, the carriage against case-shift movement, and means on said rodfor moving said arm to release the carriage. y

16. In a typewriting machine, a platen` a platen carriage movable inletter-feed and return directions, and shiftable between ease positions,an escapement mecl'ianism to control the letter-feed movement of thecarriage, a space-key and connections therefrom to operate theescapement mechanism, means for locking the carriage againstcaseshifting movement, and means controlled by the space-key forreleasing the locking means, said locking means being disconnected fromthe space-key in its movement to effective position.

17. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a. platen carriage movable inletter-feed and return directions, and shif'table between case position,an escapement mechanism to control the letter-feed movement of thecarriage, a space-key and connections therefrom to operate theescapement mechanism, means for locking the carriage againstcase-shifting movement, and means controlled by the space-key forreleasing the locking means, said locking means being also releasableindependently of the space-key.

18. In a typewriting machine having a keyboard and a traveling carriagemounted for case-shiftrnovement, a device for locking said carriageagainst traveling and caseshift movement, and a key in said keyboard forreleasing said locking device.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriagecomprising a bar having a notch therein, of a locking memberco-operativc with the notch to lock the carriage stationary in acent-ral position for shipment, a spring-detent engaging the lockingmember to detain it in effective or ineffective position, and a cam onthe locking member co-operating with .the spring-detent, the cam anddetent being so constructed and arranged that the detent urges thelocking member toward position to seat in the notch when the lockingmember is moved against vthe bar with the carriage away from centralposition.

20. A locking device for use in typewriting machines, comprising an armpivoted on the machine-frame and having a detentfiange to interfit witha notch on the carriage-rail, a beak to overlie the carriage-rail andhold it down, and a finger-piece for swinging said lever to effectiveposition.

GEORGE W. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

L. W. DoBsoN, L. C. GULLBERG.

